The Honorable Antonio Villaraigosa Mayor of Los Angeles 14410 Sylvan Street #211 Van Nuys, CA Dear Mayor Villaraigosa, I am writing on behalf of myself and my fellow teachers of the Los Angeles Unified School District. We are extremely concerned with the state of our school system. We understand that the city and state’s finances have resulted in extreme budget cuts, but the quality of Los Angeles schools has dropped tremendously over the years. Our school in particular, East Elementary School, is facing troubling times. The classrooms are packed with children who all deserve the best education and individual attention. However, this is hard to accomplish when our books are out of date, our teachers cannot get proper supplies, and the general morale of both faculty and parents is at an all-time low. In addition, the actual quality of our buildings and classrooms are poor. Desks look run down, the school needs painting, and our playground is not a safe place for kids to play. I am aware that you have a lot on your plate as Mayor of Los Angeles, but as both a teacher and concerned parent, I am asking you to find some way in the budget to help out your school system. I know a number of teachers at other schools who have told me of similar circumstances, and it breaks my heart. I appreciate all that you do for our city, and I look forward to seeing positive changes. Thank you for listening. Sincerely yours, Mary Scott First grade teacher East Elementary School